Wisconsin won't face insurance gap if deadline met

MADISION (AP) - Wisconsinites who have state health insurance can sign up for President Barack Obama's health care law through the end of March.

Department of Health Services spokeswoman Claire Smith said Monday about 70,000 residents who are on BadgerCare Plus or Health Insurance Risk-Sharing Plan will lose their coverage as of April 1, but as long as they sign up and pay for insurance through the federal exchange by March 31 there won't be a gap.

There had been concerns about a coverage lapse, but Smith says that will not be the case as long as residents sign up by March 31.

Those who have no insurance have to sign up by Saturday to get coverage effective April 1. Enrollment between March 16 and 31 is effective May 1.